Autocar - First for car news and reviews

What is it?

The most powerful diesel version of the new X6 – BMW’s attempt to cross a sportscar with an off-roader. Put simply, the X6 defies all the well managed marketing logic car makers traditionally pride themselves on.

Most significantly, the X6 acts as a platform for the introduction of some of BMW’s most interesting mechanical developments in years – including a new traction enhancing torque vectoring system that’s set to appear in all of BMW’s four-wheel drive mode...Read the full article

I'm not sure Autocars "First Drive" headline is backed up by the article as the text doesn't tell us too much about the driving... and the photographs have been on the Skins.be website for 2 months!!

This is a great addition to BMW's range and am surprised they predict only 10% of sales will be petrol. I presume that's only until they roll out the full petrol and diesel engine range under the X6's bonnet.

This is little more than a lowered (20mm) X5 with a funky design inside and out. my only reservation is the shallow rear windscreen and high headrests (park-assist will be a must I reckon!).

Great car and expect BMw to sell as many as they can make which'll add to the sexiness of adding to the Earths CO2 cycle compared to the Governments sad, misguided nannying drive to get us onto bicycles and buses and toward grey trollness. As it's a democracy, mine'll be an X6, in grey or black please.

I expect the X6 will sell well but  to me it seems to take a fairly pointless vehicle, the X5, and makes it worse. If you want a BMW coupe buy a 6 series, if you need a family car by the 5 series estate. Both are available with the same, magnificent twin turbo diesel engine and because of the lower weight and lower height they would be faster, more rewarding to drive and more economical. 

S Moore:

I expect the X6 will sell well but  to me it seems to take a fairly pointless vehicle, the X5, and makes it worse. If you want a BMW coupe buy a 6 series, if you need a family car by the 5 series estate. Both are available with the same, magnificent twin turbo diesel engine and because of the lower weight and lower height they would be faster, more rewarding to drive and more economical. 

Can't argue with that. Only to add, for all those BMW lovers, other manufacturers offer similar vehicles to those mentioned above. Go on, stop following the herd and try something else.

J Moore - Point of Order. Why buy the 6-Series coupe when the 3-Series coupe is lighter, more agile, smaller and more compact but also much bigger (totally usable) rear seats and costs £20K less?  

Why buy a 3 series coupe when you can have a 1 series coupe? Why buy the 1 series when you can have a Panda? Why buy the Panda...etc, etc.

Buy the one you want - life's too short!

For me it'll be the 35D X6 as long as the gearbox doesnt get too confused at roundabouts. I just got rid of a 730D that used to take ages to pick up the drive if you'd just braked from speed, spotted a gap, and gone back on the power. Friend of mine says his 535D is the same. That's a worry, but if they've fixed it then I'll go with the X6. Or a 6 series, or maybe a Panda!
 

Exactly, you are obviously a BMW owner who does recognise other brands!

JJBoxster:

J Moore - Point of Order. Why buy the 6-Series coupe when the 3-Series coupe is lighter, more agile, smaller and more compact but also much bigger (totally usable) rear seats and costs £20K less?  

The 6-series, being a bigger car, will offer refinement and safety that the 3 series won't. There is no denying that the X6 is a pointless vehicle. I can make a case for SUVs including the X5, but not the X6. It doesn't offer the practicality or 4wd versatility that makes SUVs so attractive. If you want a driver's car then surely something suited to the task (i.e low, light and rwd) can only be better. I do have to admit the X6 is an incredible feat of engineering, and if the technology will make other large BMWs handle better, then job done.

Jon Hardcastle:

Go on, stop following the herd and try something else.

Why do you care what other people think about your choice of car ?

Im totally divided with this car. On one hand, my sensible side says that it is utterly pointless. yes it'll drive well, but if you want a sports car, then surely you buy a sports car. Granted it will be more practical than say a 911. But as an everyday car, why does anyone need a car that size? The X5 is better packaged, drives very well and has an extra seat. But then so does the S-max and that has seven seats and has the 2.5 engine from the focus ST.

On the other hand, i love it! Its totally unsensible, and i have no idea why i love it, i just do. Mind you, wont be trading my smart roadster for one!

Not so; I have owned 4 New Lexus, 5 new Audi's and only now moved to BMW with my 635D Sport, I have moved to BMW because the "Efficiency Dynamics" is far in advance of the rest, my 635DS gives me 38/40 MPG all day long, where as my 4.2 TDI sport A8 could not break 36MPG on long runs, the A8 3.0TDI could only manage 30MPG!!!

Audi is behind the game as is Lexus with this "So called Hybrid" which I bought and could not match the figiures they suggested even at 56MPH!!!!

At least with the BMW's I have had, "They do what it says on the Tin".

Best regards

Why do you care what other people think about your choice of car ?

James, Where do you get off? I don't care what other people think of my choice of car, and I don't see how you came to that conclusion in the first place!!!

My point is that there is so much pomp and ceremony around all that BMW do from all sides, but rarely do we see similar levels of interest in other manufacturers products in the same way. Just my view of course.